Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book. The book investigates the rationale behind the EU sanctioning power also with regard to traditional enforcement mechanisms. It focuses on the infringement procedure and discussing its most recent developments. The problem of effectiveness also lies at the core of the debate on the recourse to sanctions in order to protect the values of the Union. The teleological approach to sanctioning powers unveils an inherent tension between the quest for the effectiveness of EU law and policies with the general principles of the EU legal order. Alberto Miglio and Francesco Costamagna look at the enforcement machinery in the EMU economic pillar and observe that, despite the prominence of sanctioning mechanisms and the emphasis on fiscal discipline, recourse to formal sanctions has been negligible due to the presence of alternative enforcement tools.